Method of forming tie plates



Dec. 29, 1942. G. T. WILLARD METHOD OF FORMING- TIE PLATES I Filed Jan. s, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 G. T. WILLARD METHOD OF FORMING -TIE PLATES r n eflz s, 1942;

Filed Jan. 3, 1938 2 She ets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 29, 1942 METHOD OF FGRMIN G TIE PLATES George T. Willard, Evanston, 111., assignor to The P. & M. Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application January 3, 1938, Serial No. 183,010

7 Claims.

top of the plate, the said projection providing a vertically extending bearing surface for the clip.

The said plates. may vary somewhat in relation to the location and form of the said under-cut shoulders and upstanding projections. For example, the under-cut shoulder of a plate may extend transversely of a rail abutment rib on the plate and the upstanding projection may be formed on said rib so as to increase the height thereof, as shown in my copending application Serial No. 98,122 filed August27, 1936, which has matured into Patent No. 2,140,344 of Dec. 13, 1938,

or the said undercut shoulder may extend lengthwise of the rail seat with the upstanding projection or lug being formed either on the rail abutment rib or on the fiat surface of the plate as shown in my copending application Serial No. 172,769, filed November 4, 1937, which has matured into Patent No. 2,162,365 of June 13, 1939.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of forming tie plates with undercut shoulders and upstanding projections of the character above mentioned, whereby said shoulders and projections may be formed simultaneously with the punching of the rail clip openings in the plate.

The improved method is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan ViC-W of a railway tie plate made in accordance with the improved method, the plate being illustrated in connection with the base portion of a rail and a clip member for retaining the rail in position on the plate.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating a modified embodiment of tie plate and rail-retaining clip.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view of another modification of the plate and clipmembers.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. -7 is a view in perspective of a portion of a tie plate bar illustrating the configuration of the plate before the rail clip openings are punched therein and prior to the formation of the up-pressed lug portions on the plate.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional View of one form of die and punch members employed in connection with the improved method.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but showing the punch in a position whereby the material of the tie plate is displaced and forced into a recess the die to form an upstanding lug on the rail abutment rib of the tie plate.

Fig. 101s a view similar-to Fig. 9 but illustrating a diiferent form of punch member whereby the upstanding lug formed on the rail abutment rib extends the full width of the rib.

Fig. '11 illustrates the punch and die members used for forming the undercut shoulder and lug portions of the tie plate shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on line 12 -1 2 of Fig. 11,*but showing the punch member in its elevated position.

Before proceeding with the description of the method, the tie plate and clip constructions will be briefly described.

The tie plate illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is designated by the reference numeral I0 and is interposed between the base portion II of a railroad rail and the top surface of a railway cross-tie l2. The seat portion l3 for the rail base may be made flat or cambered in accordance with the established practice and is formed preferably-at opposite sides of the seat with upstanding ribs i4l4a. The said ribs l4-l4a extend from edge to edge of the plate and except for the upstanding lugs I5-l5 formed thereon are of a height substantially equal to the edge thickness of the rail base. In the form of tie plate shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the upstanding lugs I'5-|5 extend upwardly from ribs Ml4a at locations spaced from the inner faces Iii-46 of the ribs. This arrangement of the lugs provide the said ribs with L-shaped seats for the upper ends of rail retaining clip members Each clip member 11 is preferably made of resilient metal, for example, spring steel, and is of a configuration which may be described generally as C-shape. The upper end portion of the clip is formed with a downwardly projecting portion 18 adapted tobear vertically on the surface 19' of the L shaped seat and bears laterally against the vertical face of said seat. An angularly disposed arm 2l at this end of the clip overlies the marginal portion of rail base H. The lower end of the C-shape clip extends into an opening 22 and is provided with an angular portion 23 adapted to engage an undercut shoulder 24 formed in the opening 22. The shoulder 24, preferably, extends beneath 111g l5. The inner vertical wall 25 of the said opening 22 serves as an abutment to limit the inward movement of the lower end of the rail retaining clip.

The form of tie plate illustrated in Fig. 4 is substantially the ame as the tie plates illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 except that the upstanding lug designated 15a extends the full width of the rail abutment rib Ma. The rail retaining clip member formed with an end portion 26 engages the top of the rail base and bears laterally against the inner face 27 of the upstanding abutment 15a.

Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings illustrate a further modification in the form and location of the upstanding lugs 21 on the plate. In this form of plate the openings 28 for receiving the lower end portion of a rail clip 29 are enlarged lengthwise of the rail to provide undercut shoulder 38. The clip member 29 is formed with angularly disposed ends 3! adapted to interlock with the shoulders. The upstanding lugs 21 are preferably formed on the rail abutment rib 32 of the tie plate, but do not extend above the upper edge of the rib. The said lugs, when arranged in the manner shown, provide relatively wide vertically extending surfaces 32a for engaging the side faces of the resilient leg portions of the rail clip when the latter is in its applied position on the plate.

The several tie plates shown herein are intended only as illustrations of certain tie plate constructions which may be made by the improved method. It will be understood, therefore, that various other forms of plates, for example, any of the several plates shown in my said patent No. 2,162,365, may be formed in accordance with the present method.

In accordance with the improved method, the metal is first put between suitable rolls (not shown) to form a tie plate bar. The cross-sectional configuration of the bar will, of course, vary in accordance with the type or cross-sectional configuration of the tie plate desired. In some cases the top portion of the tie plate bar may be formed with one or more rail abutment ribs extending the full length of the bar, as shown in Fig. 7. In other cases the ribs may be positioned at spaced locations or omitted entirely, as the type of tie plate being manufactured may require. This step of the process will be understood without further illustration, since tie plate bars of various configurations are well known by persons engaged in the manufacture of tie plates. The tie plate elements of suitable width are severed from the tie plate bar by shearing the same along the dotted lines indicated by the reference numeral 33. The shearing operation and likewise all other punching and pressing operations hereinafter described are, preferably, performed while the tie plate bar is relatively hot. However, the metal ordinarily used for railway tie plates is such that the shearing and the punching and pressing operations contemplated by this invention can be performed after the tie plate bar has cooled.

Spike openings designated 34 are punched through the plate either before or after the tie plate element is severed from the tie plate bar. Preferably, though not necessarily, at the time of punching the spike openings 34, the rail clip receiving openings 2222 are punched through the plate at a suitable location relative to the rail seat portion of the plate, for example, adjacent the rail abutment ribs l4-l4a. During this punching operation, the tie plate or the tie plate bar, as the case may be, is inverted and supported on a suitable die designated in the drawings by the reference numeral 35. The die member 35 preferably conforms to the top surface of the tie plate and is formed with suitable recesses 36 for receiving the rail abutment ribs M-Hla of the plate. Inasmuch as the form and operation of the supporting and punching dies are the same for both end portions of the tie plate, only so much of the dies are shown herein as are necessary to form the clip receiving opening 22 adjacent the shoulder I4 of the tie plate and to form the projection l5 on the rail abutment rib. The punching die 31 is provided with a portion which is first forced through the plate to make the opening 22 therein, as shown in Fig. 8. The continued downward movement of the punch die brings a horizontal shoulder portion 38 thereof into engagement with the bottom surface of the tie plate adjacent the opening 22 so as to form the recessed portion defined in the plate by the undercut shoulder 24 and the vertical wall 25. In forming the said recess and the said undercut shoulder, the metal is displaced by the lateral shoulder 38 of the punch member and is forced downwardly and into a recess 39 of the die 35 so as to form the clip engaging lug I5 on the top surface of the rail abutment rib M. It will be observed that there is no substantial lateral displacement of metal during the said pressing operation. Consequently, the inner wall 25 of the recess can extend beneath the rail abutment rib to substantially the edge of the rail seat without upward displacement of the seat.

By producing the tie plate H] in accordance with this method, the vertical height of the rail abutment ribs l4l4a of the plate can be made to correspond substantially to the edge thickness of the rail base and the additional height of the rib required to provide a projection for interlocking with the upper end portion of a rail retaining clip member can be formed without requiring additional metal. In other words, the displacement of metal, during the said lug forming operation, does not reduce the thickness of the metal adjacent the clip opening. The vertical wall 25 of the plate opening 22 and the wall 20 of the upstanding lug I5 are so positioned that the spring clip member, when in its applied position, presses laterally on these surfaces but in opposite directions. The undercut shoulder 24 and the supporting surface I!) are so positioned that the clip is stressed vertically when it is in its applied position. The fact that the upstanding lugs 15-! 5a are relatively short in comparison to the full length of the rail abutment ribs |4l4a together with the position of the said upstanding lugs adjacent the openings 22-22 in the plate, makes it practicable to form the upstanding shoulder by the displacement of metal in a manner above described.

The form of tie plate shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings is formed in the same manner as that described in connection with Figs. 8 and 9 except that the portion 38a of the punch member and the recess 39a of the die 35a. are so pro--.

assets? portioned that the upstanding lug designated at [b will extend the full width of the rail abutment rib Mb on the tie plate, whereby the inner face 27 of the lug l5b lies in the plane of the inner face of the rail abutment rib Mb and serves as a lateral abutment for the return bent end 26 of the rail retaining clip illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The tie plates of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive contemplate recessing the bottom of the plate in a direction transversely of the rail abutment ribs i l-Ma and consequently contemplate undercut shoulders 2424a which project substantial distances beneath the thicker portions of said ribs. It will be apparent, therefore, that the position and depth of the lateral recesses in the bottom face of the plate determines the height of the lug |5-l5a above the ribs on which they are formed. This will be more apparent after inspection of Figs. 5 and 6 in which the recess for receiving the lower ends of the rail clip 29, extend lengthwise of the rail abutment ribs and underlie the outer portions thereof which decrease in height toward the top of the plate. The metal displaced in the manufacture of said plate forms lugs 27 on the rail abutment ribs 32 of the plate but the lugs will not, ordinarily, project above the abutment ribs.

In manufacturing the tie plate shown in Figs. 5 and 6, two punch members are used to form the clip openings 28, the wider portions 4c of the punches form the recesses which form the undercut shoulder 36-39 of the plate. The metal displaced, in forming the said shoulders 303ll, is pressed into the recesses 4l-4| of the supporting die 42 to form the lugs 21-21 of the plate,

the said lugs extending substantially to the upper edge of the ribs 32 and provide, in each case, a relatively wide bearing surface 32a for engagement with the side faces of a rail clip member. In addition to providing the relatively wide bearing faces 32a, the lugs 2'! are so formed as to preserve the full thickness of metal at the opening and thereby provide sufficient metal above the undercut shoulder to resist the upward pressures of the rail clip member.

This application is directed to an improved method of forming tie plates. Insofar as its disclosure and claims relate to Figs. 1 to 4 and 7 to 10 inclusive, the application is a continuation of copending application Serial No. 98,122, filed August 27, 1936 (now Patent No. 2,140,344), and is a continuation of copending application Serial No, 172,759, filed November 4, 1937 (now Patent No. 2,162,365), as to all matters restricted to the disclosure of Figs. 5 and 6 and 11 and 12, respectively. The two forms of apparatus herein shown for performing the several steps of the method are not claimed per se herein, but are claimed in my copending divisional application Serial No. 443,331, filed May 18, 1942.

I claim:

1. The method of forming a tie plate having an opening therein formed with an undercut shoulder surface for engagement with a rail retaining clip member, which consists in rolling a tie plate bar to a predetermined configuration from which tie plates of desired widths are adapted to be severed, punching an opening in atie plate portion of the bar at a suitable location for receiving a rail clip member, and applying metal displacing pressure to the bottom of the plate, after the metal thereof has cooled sufficiently to resist lateral displacement, to form a recess communicating with said punched opening and providing an undercut shoulder; the metal displaced incident to the formation of said recess being forced vertically through the plate to form a lug overlying the recess and projecting upwardly from the top of the plate.

2. The method of forming a tie plate having a rail abutting rib thereon with a rail clip engaging lug on said rib and having an opening through the plate formed with an undercut shoulder therein which projects under the said lug, which consists in rolling a tie plate bar having a rail abutting rib thereon of the desired cross sectional contour, and from which bar tie plates of desirable widths are adapted to be severed, punching a plate portion of said bar to provide an opening therethrough adjacent said outer face of said abutment rib, then applying metal displacing pressure to the bottom surface of the tie plate only at a location adjacent one Wall of said punched opening to form a recess which communicates with said opening and provides said undercut shoulder the inner edge of which is spaced a substantial distance outwardly from the plane of the inner face of said abutment rib, the metal displaced incident to the formation of said recess being forced through the plate Without substantial lateral displacement to form an upwardly projecting lug on the said rail abutment rib, thereby preserving approximately the entire thickness of metal above said recess.

3. The method of forming a tie plate having a rail abutment rib thereon with a rail clip engaging lug on said rib and with an undercut shoulder which projects under the said lug, which consists in rolling a tie plate bar having a rail abutment rib thereon of a desired cross-sectional contour and from which bar tie plates of desirable widths are adapted to be severed, punching a tie plate portion of said bar to provide an opening therethrough adjacent to the outer face of said abutment rib and applying pressure to the bottom surface of the plate only at a location adjacent said opening to form a pressed recess which communicates with said opening to form said undercut shoulder the inner edge of which is spaced a substantial distance outwardly from the plane of the inner face of said rib, the metal displaced incident to the formation of said recess'being forced through the plate and into a recess of a supporting die to prevent appreciable lateral displacement and thereby form a lug which projects upwardly on the rail abutment rib of the plate, for the purpose described.

4. The method of forming a tie plate having a rail abutment rib extending across the plate, a rail clip engaging lug on the. rib at a location spaced from the inner face of the rib, and an undercut shoulder underlying the lug portion of the rib; which consists in rolling a tie plate bar of a desired cross-sectional contour from which tie plates having said abutment ribs thereon may be severed, punching a tie plate portion of said bar to provide an opening through and adjacent to the outer face of said abutment rib and applying pressure to the bottom surface of the plate adjacent to said opening only, while the punch member remains therein, to form in the plate a pressed recess whose width and depth correspond substantially to the width and height, respectively, of the rail clip engaging lug, the metal displaced incident to the formation of said recess being forced through the plate without appreciable lateral displacement and into a recess in a supporting die to form the said clip engaging lug at the location specified.

5. The method of forming tie plates having rail abutments extending across the said plates, a rail clip engaging lug on the rib and extending lengthwise thereof at a location spaced from the inner face of the rib, and having an undercut shoulder extending transversely of the abutment rib and underlying the lug portion thereof; which consists in rolling a tie plate bar of a desired cross-sectional contour from which tie plates having said abutment ribs thereon may be severed, punching a tie plate portion of said bar while the same is still hot, following the rolling operation, to provide an opening through and adjacent to the outer face of said abutment rib and applying pressure to the bottom surface of the plate adjacent to said opening only, while the punched member remains therein, to form in the plate a pressed recess which communicates with the punched opening, the metal displaced incident to the formation of said recess being forced vertically through the plate and into a recess in a supporting die without appreciable lateral displacement of metal to form the said clip engaging lug at the location specified.

6. The method of forming a tie plate having an opening therein formed with an undercut shoulder surface for engagement with a rail retaining clip member, which consists in rolling a tie plate bar to a predetermined configuration from which tie plates of desired widths are adapted to be severed, thereafter punching an opening through a tie plate and applying pressure to the bottom of the plate by means of a lateral shoulder on the punch to form a recess therein communicating with said opening, whereby pressure is applied to the plate adjacent the clip opening only and the said clip opening and said recess are formed by a single operation, the metal displaced by the said shoulder of the punch being forced vertically through the plate and into a recess in a supporting die to form a lug on the top surface of the plate.

'7. The method of forming a tie plate having a rail abutment rib thereon extending across the plate and having a lug on the plate extending outwardly from said rib and formed adjacent said lug with an opening through the plate formed with an undercut shoulder surface for engagement with a rail retaining clip member; consisting in rolling a tie plate bar having a rail abutment rib thereon of substantially uniform crosssection and from which bar tie plates of desired widths are adapted to be severed, punching an opening in a tie plate portion of the bar at a suitable location for receiving a portion of said rail clip member, and applying metal displacing pressure to the bottom of the plate to form a recess communicating with said punched opening and providing an undercut shoulder; the metal displaced incident to the formation of said undercut shoulder being forced through the plate to form on the top of the plate a lug overlying the said recess and joined with the outer surface of said rib.

GEORGE T. WILLARD. 

